How to Zoom Out in Layout Mode AutoCAD

AutoCAD's layout mode makes printing drawings much easier. Layouts allow you to set up a drawing so that it always prints at the right scale on the right sheet of paper. Layouts can also be swapped between drawings so that a new file does not need the layout created afresh. Modelspace (where you do your drawing) and Paperspace (where you print from) are available in layout view. Zooming in each space will have a different affect on your drawing.

Zooming in Paperspace

Open AutoCAD and the drawing you want to work on. Click on one of the "Layout" tabs toward the bottom of the drawing screen.

Zoom as you would in Modelspace. Issue zoom commands at the "Command" line; type "Z," hit "Enter" and pick from the options.

Zoom using your mouse's middle wheel. Place the crosshairs where you want to zoom to. Scroll the wheel forward (toward the screen) to zoom in and scroll back to zoom out.

Zooming in Modelspace within the Layout

Double-click in the center of the drawing sheet. The border (viewport) will turn thick. This shows it is active.

Zoom as before using the command line or mouse. Everything will be framed by the viewport, so you will need to pan within the viewport to see everything.

Double-click outside the viewport when you have finished in Modelspace. This will return you to Paperspace. The zoom command now works as above.

Tips & Warnings

Two of the most useful command line uses of zoom are "Zoom to Extents" and "Zoom Previous." Zoom Extents will zoom out to the edge of the sheet in Paperspace and the edge of the drawing in Modelspace. Zoom Previous takes you back a step to your last zoom.

When zooming inside the viewport you are also changing the scale. When you are finished in Modelspace you may need to reset the scale of the drawing and recenter it.